Cash register



Sept. 25, 1934. c. wERTs wmsa CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 20, 1932 3SheetsShee't l F/zsz/ F D1 s s D F.

NO SALE //v VEN TOR ATTORNEY Sept. 25, 1934. c. J. wERT 1,974,699

cAsa REGISTER Filed Feb. 20, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. J. WERTS Sept 25,1934.

CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 20, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYPatented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED ESTATES PATENT CASH REGISTER 7 CharlesJerome Werts, London, England Application February 20, 1932, Serial No.594,348 In Great Britain March 10, 1931 10 Claims." '(Cl. 235'23) r Theprimary object of the present inventionconsists in the provision of acash register in which indicating, adding, and other mechanismsareactuated through the intermediary of displaceable chains-having lateralprojections for engagement by the operator.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of an operatingchainhaving finger pieces projecting from the-sidesthereof in staggeredl relation in order to provide-gaps of convenient size betweensuperposed pieces and yet keep the chain within reasonable length.

A further object of the inventionconsists in the-provisionin a cashregister of trigger devices in a datumline arranged to actuate lockingmechanism for the chain when an operated finger piece reaches or isadjacent the said datum line. The locking mechanism prevents returnmovements of the chainand indicating mechanism until such timeas theoperator actuates release mechanism therefor.

A further object of the. invention is the pro.-

vision in a cash register of means enabling the adding mechanism to beadvanced,- or not, as desiredv whenthe machine is operated. Duringordinary usagethe arrangement is such that. the

amounts indicated are added to the total of the adding mechanism;duringpaying-out the amounts although-indicated arenotadded to the totalof the said mechanism.

A further. object of the invention is the provision in a cash registerof adding mechanism which is connected with the actuating chain througha uni-directionaL clutch one element ofwhich is non-rotatablewith-respect to the said chain and another element of which positivelyconnected to or is rigid. with the drum or with a transmission tothedrum on which the figures of the adding .mechanism appear. The clutchmember connected to the drum is rotatable with respect to its fellowprovidedit can displace its fellow-laterally but unless a transfer is tobe effected lateral movement. of the saidfellow is prevented by a-fingerwhich, however, is intentionally displaceableto permit of the transferbeing made. Owing to this arrangementjump ing of the mechanism i. e.unintended transfers, cannot takeplace.

The above and other objects of the invention will be clear from thefollowing descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. The drawings show a cash register provided with endless chainsfor actuating indicating, adding etc. mechanism and adapted to deal withamounts from a farthing to eleven and eleven pence three farthings; anda halfpenny indicating device for use in place of the farthings windicating etc. mechanism in the said register;

In these drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine, and;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the said mach ne."

Certain of the parts, including the case,"h'aving been omitted in thesefigures.-

Fig. 3 is a front view on a larger scaleof part of the mechanism forlocking the operating chain and for locking the parts associated withitagainst unintentional returnmovement after operation, and of automaticselector clutch mechanism for transmitting or nottransmitting, asdesired, movements brought-about by the chain to adding mechanism;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections substantially on the lines IV-IV,-VV,VIVI, respectively of Fig; 3;

Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical sections taken substantially on the linesVII-V1I and VIII-VIII respectively of Fig. 1;

In the example according to Figs. 1 to 8 the machine is operated bydownwardly ap-'-- plied'finger pressure on members 1 that project 35sidewardly of endless chains 2. The finger pieces or members 1 arearranged in staggered relation on opposite sides of their respectivechains so that the spacesbetween adjacent pieces easily receive anoperators finger whilst the vand 'the remaining finger pieceson thechain are displacedand sprocket wheels 6and 7 over which the lowerandupper bends respectively of the chain pass are'turned until theoperators finger reaches a datum line, not shown, in which are a numberof triggers 88' connected together in pairs. fore depresses a-triggerand a pivotedbolt- 10 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) against the upper side ofwhich bears one shank 11 of one trigger of a pair is turned on its pivot12 and the end 13 ofthe .bolt remotefrom the pivot'is introduced Theoperators finger thereister with 13. The said bar is locked in thisposition by a catch 14 which extends through and forwardly of a crossbar 15 and engages at its under face with the upper plane face 16 of thebar 10. bar of Fig. 3, and Fig. 4.)

The end 13 of the bar 10 in moving downwardly urges the catch rearwardlyowing to the said. endengaging with the inclined end 17 of the catch,and immediately the said end 17 passes the under face of the catch, thecatch assumes the locking position under the action of a blade spring 18which is arranged at the rear of the cross bar 15 and is secured to itby a rivet 19. The wheel 6, the displaced chain and the wheel 7 are nowheld against return movement.

The wheels 7 are connected (Fig. 1) one to a palr of drums S-S forshillings,-another to a pairof drums D-D for pence, and the other to apair of drums F-F for farthings, and as each wheel 7 is turned owing tothe displacement of the chain its pair of drums is turned through asimilar angle and, together with the chainetc, is locked'in thedisplaced position when the wheel 6 is engaged by 13 as above described.The drums 'S, D, F when turned expose, through windows (not shown) atthe right hand side of the front of the machine one of the numerals oneach of their peripheries, and the drums S D F expose, through windowsat the right hand side of the rear of the machine, similar numerals to aperson at the rear. It will be understood that the numerals vexposed inthe windows are similar to those represented by whichever of the fingerpieces is or are pressed to the datum line, and that owing to theduplicate arrangement of the drums with respect to their windows onlythe numerals reading'in the order shillings, pence, farthings areexposed to view from the front or from the rear of the machine. ThedrumsS-S are rigid with each other and are rigidly connected with theirwheel 7 by a sleeve '20; the drums Dli) are connectedtogether and totheir wheel 7 by a sleeve 21, this sleeve bearing the sleeve 20 andmembers associatedther'ewith; and the drums FF arerigidly connected withtheir wheel 7 by a shaft 22 which passes through the bore of sleeve 21so as. to support the sleeve and is borne at its ends by the upper endsof two upwardly and rearwardly extending side-arms 23 to which the endsof the cross bar 15 are secured'.

- The triggers, besides acting as'above described when depressed,release a cash drawer 24 which a spring 24' opens; For this purpose theshank of one trigger of each pair extends rearwardly of a rod 25turnably supporting the triggers and passes under a transverse bar 26which bar, when a pair of triggers is depressed, is raised by the shankand through a pull rod 27 lifts a detent '28 out of a recess 29 ina'longitudinal member 30 of the cash drawer. Therod 25 is supported atits ends in the'a'rms23 and the 'ends'of the bar 26 are (See moreparticularly the middle ranged each between a blade spring 17 and thecross bar 16 retract the catches 14 with the result that such bolts ashave been operated by the triggers are free to move out of the gaps inwheels 6 under the action of tension springs 36 secured at their ends to13 and 15 respectively. The upward movement of the bolts is assisted bythe flanks of the teeth in wheels 6 pressing against the curved sidesofthe bolts owing to the action of torsion springs 37. One end of eachspring 37 is anchored at 33 to a wheel 6 and the other end of eachspring 37 is anchored at 39 to a non-rotatable shaft 40 borne at itsends in the lower parts of the arms 23 and supporting the wheels Giandother parts later to be described. Each spring 37 is always underconsiderable stress so that it easily and quickly returns its wheel 6and the chain and other parts previously moved by the depressing of afinger piece.

For the purpose of enabling the machine to be used for paying outpurposes, in which case it is desirable that the amount paid out'andindicated by the drums is not included'in} the total of adding mechanismlocated on a shaft41 at the front of the machine, the wheels 6 areconnected with the adding mechanism through selector clutches 47-50 thatcan be made operative or inoperative as desired. The selector clutch forfarthings is not shown.

If the clutches are operative they are under the control of mechanismseach comprising a stirrup 42 turnably mounted on a screw stud 43 securedto the cross bar 15 and a finger 44 on the under side of each bolt 10,the arrangement being such that when a bolt is depressed the end of thefinger'44 contacts at 42 with the adjacent side of a stirrup 42 andturnsit on the stud 43. One limb 45 of the stirrup normally extends into agroove 46 in the clutch element 47 and the other limb 48 of the stirrupnormally enters one of twelve transverse slots 49 in the periphery ofthe second clutch element 50. When the stirrup is that wheel 6 andtheclutch elements are free' to rotate on a spacing sleeve 57 carried bythe shaft 40. Rotation does not take place until the wheel 6 isreleasedby the bolt 10 whereupon the said Wheel under the action of spring 37,is returned to its zero position as previously described and inreturning rotates, through the pin 55, the

clutch element 47 which is connected through 51 with element 50. Asprocket wheel 58 rigid with 50 is therefore turned through the-sameangle as the wheel 6 and this wheel 58 iscoupled by means of a chain 59to a sprocket wheel 60 which rotates an adding wheel 62 through a oneway dog clutch 61. 'The limb 48 ensures that one of the holes 52 in theclutch element 55 is locked in alignment withthe projection 51 on theelement 47 when this latter is'in. its zero position; this' provisionbeing necessary because the element 50 is rotated only in the directionwhich advances adding mechanism whilst the element 47 turns in bothdirections with the sleeve 57 on shaft 40 and therefore it wouldotherwise be possible for the element 50 to get out of angular positionwith respect to 51.

For the purpose of returning" the stirrup 42 and the element 47 to thezero position after an adding operation, a tension spring 63is-xanchored at one end to a pin on the stirrup and at the other end toa pin on thecross bar 15. During the return movement the spring 63isprevented from restoring the stirrup 42 and the partsrnoved when thesaid stirrup is moved by the finger 44 because abar 65 of oblongsectionis interposed betweenthe chain-wheel end of the boss 53 and the saidwheel (6). This inter-positioning of the bar is broughtabout byeccentricallypivotingthe bar to the wheel at 64 and securing the bar toa tension spring 66 carried by the wheel 6 tending to urge thebartowards theaxis of the wheel; when the end of the boss53 is carriedpastthe said bar owing to the action of stirrup 42 the bar movesinwardly until it contacts with the sleeve 57 and prevents returnmovement of the boss 53 etc. When the parts reach the zero position(after turning in the direction of arrow A, Figure 4,) a short end 67 ofthe bar remote from that. end secured to the spring 66 sharply strikes alug 68 on the cross bar 15 and the bar 65 turns (see arrows B, Figure4,) until checked by a stop 69 on the wheel 6. The bar is thus pulledaway from the sleeve 57 and therefore a clear path is left for thereturn of the boss 53 which,. together with the parts 47, 51 etc.associated with it return to their initial position. under the action ofthe spring 63.

For the purpose of enabling the clutches 4750 to be made inoperative so.that an amount although indicated by the drums S-S etc., is not added tothe total of the adding mechanism, the pivots 12 of the bolts 10 aremounted upon a transversely slidable bar 70 whereby the bolts 10 may beslid sidewardly to move the fingers 44 out of operative positionwithrespect to the stirrup 42. The arrangement is such that the bolt 10can still look the chain wheel 6 etc. against return movement but the.clutch 47-50 remains disengaged and when the wheel 6 etc. are finallyreleased by theoperation of finger lever 34 the wheel returns under theaction of spring 37 but no movement is imparted to'the adding mechanism.

The machine is-adapted to print the amount of each transaction by meansof three type rollers 71 one for shillings, one for pence and one forfarthings. The type rollers and the wheels 72 are carried upon a spindle73 which is borne at its ends intermediately of the ends of arms 23 andprojects at 74 beyond one of the said arms where it passes through theupper end of a-rocking lever 75 located behind lever 34; The lower endof the lever 75 is connected with the finger lever 34 through ahorizontal push rod 76 and is turnably carried by a stud 77 screwinginto an arm 23. Upon the finger lever 34 being pushed rearwardly theupper end of the rocking lever 75, the end 74 of the spindle 73 and thetype rollers 71 are .movedforwardly of the machine. An ink ribbon andpaper web are suitably advanced stepwise in front of the type rollers inany suitable known manner so that each forward movement of the saidrollers effects the printing of the amount of the transaction. Theconnection between the'shait 25 of the bolt-releasing mechanism includesan arm 78 fixed on the end of the shaft 25 and a crank 79 projectingfrom the said end and lying in the rearward path of the lower end oflever 75. A small amount of lost motion occursbetween the lower end ofthe arm 75and-the crank 79.

in order that a printing operation may beeifected before the bolts arereleased.

'As previously stated the adding mechanism includes numeral drums 62 anddog clutches 61 for advancing the drums when sprocket wheels 60 arerotated from the sprocket wheels 58. The farthings drum (the right handdrum 62). is rigid with a ratchet wheel 82 and a-collar 83 on which arethree projections 84 one of which, every time a 0 on the farthings drurn52 moves into the visible or indicathig position, rocks a finger 85 on asleeve 86 and advances the middle drum 62 for pence one step. Theconnection between the sleeve 86 and the pence drum comprises a finger87 extending upwardly from the sleeve 86 and a pawl 88 pivoted to theupper end of the finger and engaging a ratchet wheel 89 on a sleeve 90which sleeve terminates atone end in one element of a clutch 61 and atits other end is secured to the pence drum 62. The sleeve 90 is providedwith a projection 91'which at every revolution of the sleeve rocks afinger 92 extending vertically of a sleeve 93 to transfer welve pence tothe units drum 62 for shillings. This transfer is effected through theintermediary of a pawl 94 arranged to advance a ratchet wheel 95 rigidwith the said drum 62 the pitch of one ratchet tooth at a time. The pawl94 is mounted at the outer end of an arm 96 projecting rigidly from ashaft 97. This shaft 97 freely'supports the sleeves 85 and 93 andrigidly carries at its end the finger lever 34. Hence when the fingerlever is operated in the manner previously set forth the free end of arm96 and therefore the toe of the pawl is lifted. This movement isineffective with respect to the ratchet wheel unless he finger 92 hasbeen rocked by the projection 91, when a lug 98 at the end of the sleeve93 adjacent the pawl rubs against the curved toe of a latch 100 to lifta shoulder 99 of the latch off of a pin 101 on the arm 96 and lower ashoulder 102 on the said latch onto'the said pin under the action of atension spring 103 secured at one of its ends to a tongue 104 rigid withthe sleeve 93 and secured at its other end to the latch, the latch beingpivoted at 105 to the pawl 94. The pawl when the shoulder 102 rests upon101 is in an operative position with respect to the ratchet wheel 95 andas the finger lever 34 is pressed rearwardly a transfer is positivelymade owing to th said lever being arranged positively to turn the shaft97 and the arm 96. The nose of the pawl in advancing the wheel 95 ridesaway from the pin 101 and pulls the latch with it so as to enable thespring 103 to raise the lower curved end of the latch and, when thefinger lever 34 is released, to replace the shoulder 99 ready for asubsequent transfer, a tension spring 96 ensuring the return of the arm96 and the pawl etc. to the position shown.

The sleeves 86, 93 and the fingers on them are returned to the positionoccupied before being rocked by projections 84 and 91 by means ofsprings 107 and 107 suitably fixed each at one end to one of the sleevesand at the other end to a base 108. The shillings roller 62 is connectedwith a tens drum 109 and a pounds drum 110 such that tens and twenties(shillings) are trans ferred in substantially known manner.

For the purpose of preventing jumping? of the pence and shillings addingdrums the right hand elements of the dog clutches 61 forthe shillingsand pence drums, which elements are not rotatable of their ownaccord,areheld in engagement with their fellow elements by means of fingers111.

Thefingers 111 bear against shoulders 113 on the ends of sleeves 114 andthus hold the sleeves 114 against lateral movement so that the elementsof each clutch cannot be rotated relatively. The finger 111 of theshillings mechanism is arranged to be turned out of engagement with itsshoulder and free the clutch elements of the sin'llings drum when lever34 is operated so as to permitof the pawl 94 advancing ratchet wheelwhilst to enable the pence and shillings drums to be zeroized bothfingers can be turned out of the paths of the shoulders by rearwardpressure on a finger lever 115. The lever 115 is rigid with a sleeve 116freely mounted on the shaft 97 and the sleeve rigidly carries a crankpin 117. The sleeve 86 and the shaft 97 are provided with rigidprojections 118 and 119 respectively disposed in the path of the crank11'! so that 118 and 119 are displaced when transfers are effected andmove independently of each other and of the pin 117 but together withthe pin are moved when lever 115 is pressed rearwardly, these lattermovements of the parts 118 and 119 being suiiicient to remove fingers111 from shoulders 113 but insufficient effectively to operate transferpawls 88 and 94. It is now possible directly to turn the pence andshillings drums 62 since those elements of the clutches 61 rigid with 62are able laterally to displace their fellow elements in riding over theteeth of the said elements, the said displacement occurring against theaction of restoring springs 120 located around shaft 41 and between theends of elements 114 and collars 122 on the said shaft. The farthingsdrum may be zeroized simply by turning it and the clutch element withwhich it is rigid-relatively with respect to its other clutch element,aspring 112 holding the elements in engagement. The shaft 41 which issupported at its ends in side plates 23 integral with arms 23 passescompletely through the bores of the memi of the pieces 1 receiving therearward thrust from and acting as slides for bosses 128 rigid with thepieces 1. The channels are carried by a face plate 129 which alsocarries the scales and glass covers therefor and which is fixed to thearms 23. 7 It will be understood that the mechanisms described aresuitably encased, access to the drums 62, 109110 and to other interiorparts of the machine being had only after locked covers or panels havebeen moved.

Although I have described and shown a single I chain-to each indicatingdrum or each pair of indicating drums, etc., it is to be understood thattwo and in some cases more than two chains may be used in place of one,when two or more chains are used they are preferably spaced apart andeach will run over wheels such as 6 and '7. The advantage of thisarrangement is that a mor rigid construction is provided. "WhatI claimis: ...1. line cash register, a device for indicating the amount of acash transaction, a chain displaceable by finger pressure for actuatingthe said device, projections associated with the chain for facilitatingthe displacement thereof, a sprocket wheel with which the chain engages,means for lockin'gthe sprocket wheel and hence the chain and the saiddevice in post-actuated position, and means for releasing the saiddevice, said locking means comprising a trigger shank that is tripped inthe displacement of the chain and a bar that is entered into engagementwith the sprocket wheel by the tripping of the said shank.

2. In a cash register, a device for'indicatingthe amount of a cashtransaction, a' chain displaceable by finger pressure for actuating thesaid device, projections associated with the chain for facilitating thedisplacement thereof, a sprocket wheel with which the chain engages,means for locking the sprocket wheel and hence the chain and. indicatingdevice in post-actuated positions, and means for releasing the saiddevice, said locking means comprising a shank that is tripped in thedisplacement of the chain, a bar that is entered intoengagement with thesprocket wheel by the tripping of the said shank, and a spring catcharranged to hold the said bar in its operative po sition, and the saidmeans for releasing the indicating device comprising a projection inoperative engagement with the catch and a finger lever for shifting thefinger to free the catch from the said bar.

3. In a cash register, a device for indicating the amount of a cashtransaction, an endless chain displaceable by finger pressureforactuating the said device, projections in staggered relation at thesides of the chain for facilitating displacement thereof, an uppersprocket wheel rotatably supporting the uper end of the chain and alower sprocket wheel rotatably supporting the lower end of the chain,shafts suporting the sprocket wheels, asleeve borneby the shaft thatsupports the upper sprocket wheel for connecting the said wheel with theindicating device so that the indicating device is rotated'whenv theuper sprocket wheel is turned owing to displacement of the chain, a toresionspringborne bythe shaft supporting the lower sprocket wheelconnected one end too the said sprocket wheel and the other end to theshaft so. as to be charged when the chain is displaced in the actuatingdirection, means for holding the 'lower'sprocket wheel against returnmovement under the action of the charged spring, and means forreleasing-the said sprocket wheel to permit of the functioning of thespring, said functioning effecting the ,zeroization of the. sprocketwheels, chain and projections, and indicating device.

4. In a cash register, a device for indicating the amount of a cashtransaction, an endless chain displaceable by finger pressure foractuating the said device-projections in staggered rela: tion at thesides of the chain for facilitating displacement thereof, an uppersprocket wheel rotatably supporting the upper end of the chain and alower sprocket wheel rotatably supporting the lower end of the chain,shafts supporting the sprocket wheels, a sleeve borne by the shaft thatsupports the upper sprocket wheel for connecting the said wheeiwith theindicating device so that the indicating device is rotated when theupper sprocket wheel is'turned owing to displacement of the chain, atorsion spring borne by the shaft supporting the lower sprocket wheelconnected one end to the said sprocket'wheel and the other end of theshaft so as to be charged when the chainis displaced in the actuatingdirection,

means including a turnably mounted shank and a pivoted bar that isdepressed by the shank into engagement with the lower sprocket wheel forthe purpose of holding the said sprocket wheel against return movementunder the action of the charged spring, said shank being operated in thedisplacement of the chain, and means for freeing the pivoted bar fromthe said sprocket wheel to permit of the functioning of the spring, saidfunctioning effecting the zeroization of the sprocket wheels, chain andprojections, and indicating device.

5. In a cash register, a device for indicating the amount of a cashtransaction, a chain displaceable by finger pressure for actuating thesaid de vice, slotted projections in staggered relation at the sides ofthe chain for facilitating the displacement thereof, said projectionsbeing movable to and beyond a datum position, a trigger for looking theindicating device in its indicating position, said trigger being in thedatum position and being arranged to pass through the slots in theprojections as the said projections pass beyond the datum position butbeing arranged to be tripped to effect the locking when the projectionunder the direct iniiuence of the operators finger reaches the datumposition, and means for releasing the said trigger to free theindicating device.

6. In a cash register, a device for indicating the amount of a cashtransaction, a chain displaceable by finger pressure for actuating thesaid device, projections in staggered relation at the sides of the chainfor facilitating the displacement thereof, said projections beingmovable to and beyond a datum position, means operable from the datumposition for locking the indicating device in indicating position, saidlocking means including a shank, said shank being tripped in theoperation of the projections, the means for engaging the shank beingoperative only when its finger is under the direct influence of pressurefrom an operator, and means for releasing the locking means and theindicating device.

7. In a cash register, a device for indicating the amount of a cashtransaction, a chain displaceable by finger pressure for actuating thesaid device, projections associated With the chain for facilitating thedisplacement thereof, said projections being movable to a datumposition, a cash drawer,

means tending constantly to open the drawer, and a catch holding thedrawer against opening, means for locking the indicating device in itsindicating position and for freeing the catch that holds the cashdrawer, said locking means including a trigger shank that is trippedfrom the datum position, and means for releasing the indicating device.

8. In a cash register, a device for indicating the amount of a cashtransaction, a chain displaceable by finger pressure for actuating thesaid device, projections associated with the chain for facilitating thedisplacement thereof, said projections being movable to a datumposition, a cash drawer, means tending constantly to open the drawer, acatch holding the drawer against opening, and means for freeing thecatch that holds the cash drawer, said means including a trigger shankthat is tripped from the datum position.

9. In a cash register, a device for indicating the amount or" a cashtransaction, a chain displaceable by finger pressure for actuating thesaid device, slotted projections in staggered relation at the sides ofthe chain for facilitating the displacement thereof, said projectionsbeing movable to and beyond a datum position, a cash drawer, a devicetending constantly to open the drawer and a catch holding the draweragainst opening, and a trigger, said trigger being in the datum positionand arranged to pass through the slots in the projections as the saidprojections pass beyond the datum position but being arranged to betripped to disengage the catch from the cash drawer when the projectionunder the direct infiuence of an operators finger reaches the datumposition.

10. In a cash register, a device for indicating the amount of a cashtransaction, a chain, a

mounting permitting displacement of the chain, finger pieces forfacilitating the displacement of said chain, a sprocket wheel with whichthe chain engages, means for locking the sprocket wheel and thereby thechain and the said device in postactuated position, and means forreleasing the said device, said locking means comprising a trigger shanktripped in the displacement of the chain and a bar entered intoengagement with the sprocket wheel by the tripping of the shank.

CHARLES JEROME WERTS.

